apocalypsehowcomm | text

It'll be good to see you there. I'm sad about George but I'm okay otherwise. How about you?

I don't know, honestly, but I've seen better days and I've seen worse. Keeping busy helps some. What we've been able to accomplish. So...well enough, I suppose. Im trying to get back to something that feels like normal...for whatever that counts for here.

I understand about keeping busy. Sometimes it's the only way to keep the voices and urges quiet. A routine helps too, at least it does for me. I've not quiet forgotten what normal is. Friends help with that.

Routine helps, too, yes. Though it's hard at times. A lot of reminders. The world keeps going, whether you're ready for it or not. But it is better than just sitting and thinking too much.

[He pauses: he's not here to dump on Kate, but the past months have been a lot. Too much, maybe, even in spite of his therapy and grief counseling.]

I'm still getting used to the idea of friends, and still figuring out what 'normal' means for me. It's really not something I've ever been good at, but I'm grateful for what I do have.

Maybe you need to learn something new? Like Calligraphy or a new sport or something? Routine but with something different might help more? Winter has been teaching me to use a gun. It's a little tedious though. He wouldn't just let me fire one. He wanted me to practice safety first. Which I totally understand and yet and yet... Thinking too much is the worst which is why I try to stay so busy. If not, I might be well onto becoming an Avatar by now. It's hard fighting that. I don't think ADI really understands how hard it is.

[ It's okay! She's dumping too. ]

You've got a friend in me, Andrew. You know, we could go out for coffee sometimes. You could practice being friendly.

That might be a thought. I spend time at the range, and in the gym, and at the pool...but it's mostly work-related. Work has come first for me for as long as I can remember, and it helps to know I'm good at what I do, but it's also...I suppose I've never really had hobbies, now that I think about it. I do read sometimes, and I did go to college, but it wasn't really a social sort of thing? It was just to be better at the job. So...I think I'd like that. If you'd like to go for coffee or dinner sometime, I've found a few good restaurants here. And if you can think of anything else, or something that interests you that you'd like company for, I'd be willing to give it a try?

[He's more enthusiastic than he sounds, he promises. Starting with the interests he does know he has.]

You should definitely come by the range and see how bad I currently am. In between the weight and the recoil, a gun is not as easy to use as I thought. ;) Now is the perfect time to start a new one of two. I was serious about learning calligraphy. I don't do it much but it does take some focus to learn. It's a great way to tune out everything else. There's also yoga. I can teach you that.

[ There's something mentally very funny about teaching Andrew Yoga. There's always been something humorous about tall men learning the stretches. He can't see it but she's smiling at the thought. ]

I'm always down for going out for coffee, Andrew. It's one of my few vices. Dinner could be good though, both are good for talking.

I'm there often enough myself, I'm good with a pistol but I've been learning other weapons as well. So I would definitely be up for some practice with company. And dinner or coffee would be welcome, there are some good places here that I wouldn't mind sharing. You may find this funny, but I've actually been thinking about an offer someone made on the network some time ago. A young man offering Dungeons and Dragons sessions. I'm considering seeing if he still has room...I've never played but I knew people who did in college and it seems like it could be an interesting distraction.

[Yes, he's over forty and ts been twenty years since college and it's ridiculous, don't laugh at him.]

Yoga might be worth a shot, as well. I have my regular routines in the gym, but I have to watch my knees so some exercises are better than others. I like to keep as flexible as I can. I like swimming, when I can manage it. Water is very relaxing for me.

If I see you, I'll wave hello just not with a gun in hand. That would be a mistake. :) I don't find it funny at all. You should go for it. I think it would be a great opportunity to make some new friends and start a new hobby. I know nothing about the game myself save for what I see in media. Water and yoga are both good exercises if you're worried about your knees. I'm sure there are stretches that could help you strengthen your knees.

Yes, gun safety is very important. It takes time to get comfortable with a weapon, but it should always be respected for what it is. I think I'm in good enough shape that taking on something new shouldn't be terrible, especially if it helps with flexibility. So if you want to talk about it sometime (maybe over that coffee), give me some idea of what I'm in for and where to start, I think I'd like that.

It is. It has been drilled very deeply into my head. Safety first! How about this Sunday?

Sunday would be great. Text me before you leave, and I'll meet you. Looking forward to it.

[And he realizes he is, even amid all the grief and solemnity. Its a step forward, no matter how tentative.]

I will. Is there a time that's good for you? I am too.

I usually try to get a bit of work done earlier in the day, to get it done with and finished, so perhaps around 1?

1 works for me. I'll text and see you then.

Jaeger is at the coffee shop just a bit before 1 after texting Kate to confirm that he's on his way. Though he's secured a corner spot in his usual watchful (read: paranoid) manner, he still stands out as the looming, dark presence he is. For the afternoon, he's dressed in casual slacks, turtleneck, and jacket, very collegiate-menace sort of chic.

He's hard to miss and he's kind of accepted that. So he's paying half attention to the Cafe while idly toying with his tablet, and quick to rise when Kate shows up. Manners, always.

She arrives a minute before one. After entering the cafe, her eyes scan the interior. When she sees Andrew sitting in the corner, she raises her hand and waves in aknowledgement before heading over.

Kate is dressed rather simply in black slacks, black boots and a green sweater, all of which is warn under her warm green coat. Green is her color after all.

"I hope I didn't keep you waiting."

Jaeger slides his tablet back into his bag, and gives Kate a brief smile and half-wave. He takes in her outfit with professional appreciation, a small notice that she does indeed wear green very well.

"Not at all, it gave me a chance to check on some things." Nothing critical, by his tone, and easily put aside.

He's going to give this his full attention, and actually focus on the point of the visit...which is, specifically, Not At Work. Once they have coffee, at least, but that's easy enough to accomplish. "We can order, and then you can explain to me exactly what I'm going to do, and how to do it without ending up in traction, right?"

She removes her coat and hangs it on the back of the chair opposite Jaeger and then her bag goes on the floor. "Okay, good." She is glad that she didn't keep him waiting. She doesn't like doing that to people because there's only so many hours in the day (and time is money friends).

Kate grins at the traction remark. She shakes her head a little bit. "Don't worry. We're going to start off slow and then work our way up to your problem areas." She doesn't want to hurt him but yoga is something a body has to get used to. Jaeger will be stretching muscles that he never knew he had.

When the waitress comes around to get their order, Kate finds that she isn't really hungry and orders a caramel latte. She can subsist on coffee alone.

Jaeger appreciates the sentiment, even though he's more relaxed in a casual setting. Or tries to be, at least- he can't help the watchfulness that lingers, but at least he can keep it toned down.

And a few minutes to sit and watch people and do a crossword puzzle is probably good for him anyway.

Jaeger orders black coffee with one sugar, and a fruit and nut bar before the waitress departs and he can turn his attention back to Kate.

"I'm used to stretching as a warm-up, so I'm not hopeless, at least. I know it's not quite the same, though." He nods, fully aware that this is going to be an adventure. "I'm used to moving quickly- swordsmanship, hand-to-hand combat. Some strength and endurance training."

He pauses for a beat, debating what he's going to say next, then admits, "Stretching also keeps scars from freezing up."

Because by now, Kate's aware of what the high collars and long-sleeved shirts cover.

She grins. "Stretching yes, Yoga no. It's a little different unless you'd rather jump right into the difficult poses?" Poses that Kate would have to look up herself because while she does practice yoga, she practices it for vanity's sake. She likes the cute outfits.

"Seriously though, it's good that you're that physical. We don't want anything freezing up and getting bent out of shape."

"I think I know enough to know that's probably a terrible idea." He shakes his head, though he's smiling. He knows his limitations and those showy, complicated poses are likely something he's just not built for. He can accept that.

"But yes...I'm at least used to moving, and I thought that would be helpful. It's not quite the same, but it's better than starting from nothing."

"It probably is. I really don't want you hurting yourself. That would be counterintuitive and we all know that I don't do bad ideas." She grins as she is clearly teasing. She's had plenty of bad ideas over the course of time. She just doesn't like to admit to it.

Their order finally comes. Kate thanks the server and then takes an experimental sip of her latte. She doesn't want to burn her tongue. It's good so she takes another sip. "Oh, that's good if you like caramel."

"I feel like I'm done with being injured for a while, so you have my wholehearted agreement on that." His smile is crooked, but he means it: the job has never been kind to him but he feels like the past year has set some kind of personal record.

As for her decisions, he knows she tries. But this place isn't really kind in that regard, either, is it?

He makes a little face at her recommendation, wrapping one big hand around his own coffee cup. "Too sweet for me, I'm afraid. I've never been much on sugar. I'm glad you're enjoying it, though- the coffee here is very good."

text - OTA

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